TBD's 2021 Year In Review

With the clock suddenly ticking down on 2021, time is running short to get sentimental about the year that was. In most ways it was not the year that we expected, but on the bright side racing started to return to the calendar ahead of what is hopefully a much more normal event schedule in 2022 And despite a 2021 race calendar that was in flux, we managed to fit in any number of two wheeled adventures, including a relatively full CX season in the fall.

And of course we did what any sane person does in a year full of highs and lows: we kept posting through it all. From race reports to guides, gear, and everything in between, it was a busy year on the Journal. Busy enough that we couldn’t stick to a Top 10 list, instead going with 15 posts as our favorites for our official Year in Review:

15. HPCX: Race Report and Gallery

2021 was likely our busiest year for Cyclocross reportage on the To Be Determined Journal. From Weekend Forecasts to Tubular Gluing Guidance, we had the season covered from start to finish. This makes it difficult to choose our favorite CX posts, but the sandpit at HPCX is hard not to pick, especially given it helped deliver the teams to multiple podium results.

14. Kingdom Trails MTB Guide

Kingdom Trails is one of those must visit destinations for New York City based cyclists. And with the early 2021 race calendar in flux, we finally made the journey. It did not disappoint. The trails were as good as everyone says, and because the Canadian border was still closed during our visit, they were also shockingly empty despite the near perfect riding weather. After a visit this good, we hope to return in 2021.

13. Mountains, Storms, Adventure: SBT GRVL 2021

SBT GRVL was originally planned as one of the team’s big 2020 adventures, but COVID had other plans in store. After last year’s cancellation we rescheduled for 2021 and had one hell of a week in Colorado with the TBD-CO squad. Perhaps Leah said it best:

Overall, despite the awful final climb where I questioned all my life choices, I had such a good time! I can’t wait to do it again next year, when someone is definitely going to peer pressure me into racing the 144 mile black course....

12. So You’re Going to Do Your First Bike Race

We consider our Guides to be one of the most important aspects of the To Be Determined Journal. With the post-COVID bike boom in full swing and a new batch of racers entering the sport for the first time, Shane’s refresh on our first time race guide was easily one of our favorite posts for the year.

11. TBD Guides: How to Ride a Bike in Prospect Park

From one of our most straightforward Guides, to easily our most controversial. “How to Ride a Bike in Prospect Park” certainly sparked A LOT of feedback online. Most of it was positive, but some of it was, let’s say, less than friendly. But for the conversation it provoked we’re putting it on our top posts of the year list.

10. One of our Favorite NYC Gravel Rides: Bike to Brew 2021

In compiling this list, we came to the realization that we featured at a lot of gravel riding on the Journal this year? Perhaps it was the reality of a post-COVID race schedule that was in flux? Or perhaps road really is losing? Either way, our informal Bike to Brew gravel grinder from NYC to CT was one of our favorite rides of the year as beautiful weather, roads, and company easily overcame a plethora of mechanicals. This is one event that we hope to repeat in 2022.

9. The Highs (and Lows) of Central Park Bike Racing

The New York City road racing calendar did not emerge from COVID unscathed. In particular the CRCA Open Racing calendar was largely put on hold until 2022. But there was one big CRCA race that made it to the start line this year - the Dave Jordan Central Park Classic. The squad came out in force for it, and experienced all of the highs and lows that come with racing bikes in Central Park, the latter punctuated by a very large box truck disrupting the field sprint for the Women’s Elite category. It was a scary moment, but everyone emerged unscathed, making for a memorable race report.

8. Route Disputes, Fall Color, Two Flats, And the Perfect Day

If we have any annual traditions on To Be Determined, the hunt for fall color is certainly one of them. This year’s big fall color ride checked all of the boxes: flats, route disputes, and some spectacular riding on roads that were new to much of the team. Liz’s retelling of the day certainly qualifies as one of our best posts of the year.

7. In Praise of Grassroots Cyclocross Races

We already admitted that it is difficult to pick our favorite Cyclocross posts. But one of the standouts was Bubblecross 2021, where a unique course combines with terrific grassroots vibes to create a memorable day of racing in close proximity to New York City. From that report:

But the race was also the perfect reminder not to sleep on the local grassroots cross races. These events, which are often sustained by a small team of volunteers, can punch well above their weight in the quality of the experience. Bottom line: with a lot of CX racing still to come, don’t miss out on these local gems.

6. 2021 is Not Cancelled: the Not Farmer’s Daughter

What do you do when there is a late event cancellation but you already have a non-refundable AirBNB reservation? Well for the 2021 edition of Farmer’s Daughter we just plowed ahead and held an un-official edition of the event, the TBD “Not” Farmer’s Daughter. With beautiful weather and a spectacular backdrop for riding, this impromptu gravel grinder was one of the best rides of the year.

5. CX Hangover: An Incredible Weekend in Baltimore

If you asked five different To Be Determined racers for their favorite cyclocross race of the season you would almost certainly get five different answers. But for our favorite Cyclocross post of the year, we’re going with Charm City Cross. Because it featured some of the TBD-CO squad flying into the East Coast where they absolutely dominated, because the hangs were excellent as always, and because what is more memorable than mid-race crab hand-ups?

4. Rapha Prestige Mount Riga: 110 miles and 10,000 feet of Climbing

The hardest ride of the year was also one of the most memorable. It was an immensely long day in the saddle, exaggerated by our propensity for extended rest stops. But it was also a day full of laughs, with plenty of cramping and suffering too. If 2021 was a year punctuated by memorable gravel rides, this was probably the best of the bunch, easily qualifying for the wide angle podium.

3. Why Every Bike Racer Should Also Be A Safe Streets Advocate

Advocacy has always been an important component of the To Be Determined Journal, and in this mid-2021 post Lucia argued why every bike racer should also be a safe streets advocate. In a year where traffic deaths in New York City continued in to increase, this was one of the most important posts of the year.

2. A Field Guide to Racing Incorrectly: How to Not Race GMSR as Your First Ever Race

We have lot of guidance and advice for new racers. Among that guidance: do not pick the hardest stage race on the East Coast as your first ever road race. And we gave this guidance to Ben in the weeks leading up to GMSR. But he was steadfast in his strategy, which to his credit made for one of our favorite posts of the entire year.

1. Bike Racing Returns to NYC

Our favorite post of the year is the one that signaled the return of bike racing to New York City. In the end it was a somewhat fragmented season of racing with several of our favorite events (Grant’s Tomb Criterium, NBX) put on pause for another year. But we are thankful for the racing that did happen, and look forward to what is hopefully a more complete schedule in 2022.